Gracias a Dios para el fin del semestre. Hoy era el fin de J-term, y tuve una presentación y un examen. La presentación era difícil por que era veinte minutos y hablaron solo en Español, sin notas, y todo sobre la fruta de Michigan y Guatemala, similaridades y diferencias. Creo que recibí una nota buena, pero no sé. Mi cerebra no le gusta a trabajando cada día con mas y mas español y examines y presentaciones, pero me encanta cada día aquí en Antigua. Es difícil, pero es bello y yo elige a descubrir cosas buenas cada día. Me gusta a mi tutor, Gloria, porque ella me comprendas. Cada día, ella estaba paciente, ayudarme, y reía conmigo sobre...mas o menos todo. Estoy agradecido porque es possible por me a se quedo con Gloria por el semestre.
Hoy era el día de moviendo, y ahora estoy desempacando y ['getting settled']. Todo es nuevo... nuevo parte de la ciudad, nueva familia, nuevo compañeros de cuarto.
Dios esta trabajando aquí, en la ciudad, en mi alma...en todo.
En Martes, ir a empezar voluntariado a Semilla de Amor. Es una casa para huérfanos cerca de Antigua. En Guatemala ahora, adopciones están cerrado. Ahora, niños necesitan ayuda con tarea de Ingles y leyendo. Estoy emocionado!
También, mis amigos de Spring Arbor ir a llegar pronto. Mas emocionado!
//
I'm going to be real honest here, and I'm even going to do it in English.
I truly love being here in Guatemala. I adore every day. There is beauty and freedom and growth and I can't get enough of it. I am truly feeling at peace and at home and there aren't words that can accurately describe how happy my heart is.
But in some moments, I just miss things about home. I miss plumbing that works reliably. I miss flushing my toilet paper. I miss never having to think about if the water is going to turn on. I miss Ginger Ale and free refills on drinks in restaurants. I miss brushing my teeth with tap water and not worrying. Showers that aren't five minutes long and/or get very cold. Walking down the street and not getting hit on by every single drunk guy and a good handful of the sober ones. Being able to overhear and understand conversations. Not constantly switching between languages. Not having to be up for breakfast at 6:45. Sleeping in a bed that smells like home (or, in this new house, I miss a bed that doesn't hurt my hips from laying on planks). Being able to go places by myself at night. Being able to find my way around and not being lost more often than not.
These are things that are stretching me. I'm thankful for the process and in no way do I wish that I had any less time here. It's bringing out the best in me while making me a little uncomfortable.
I was talking with one of my good friends back home and came to the conclusion that this trip can't be all rainbows and butterflies every day. If I'm not struggling, I'm not growing. If I'm not wrestling with concepts, I'm not maturing. If I'm not struggling to express myself in Spanish, I'm not progressing.
Good things come to those who are willing to be uncomfortable in the process.
For me, this means living in a house with six girls and spending a minimum of 40 minutes going to and from school every day (double that pretty soon) and being nowhere alone after 6pm because it's a sketch part of town. It means intentionally practicing my Spanish, even when I don't have to. It means pushing my inner introvert to go get coffee sometimes. It means struggling through my Psalm a day in Spanish.
Hoy era el día de moviendo, y ahora estoy desempacando y ['getting settled']. Todo es nuevo... nuevo parte de la ciudad, nueva familia, nuevo compañeros de cuarto.
Dios esta trabajando aquí, en la ciudad, en mi alma...en todo.
En Martes, ir a empezar voluntariado a Semilla de Amor. Es una casa para huérfanos cerca de Antigua. En Guatemala ahora, adopciones están cerrado. Ahora, niños necesitan ayuda con tarea de Ingles y leyendo. Estoy emocionado!
También, mis amigos de Spring Arbor ir a llegar pronto. Mas emocionado!
//
I'm going to be real honest here, and I'm even going to do it in English.
I truly love being here in Guatemala. I adore every day. There is beauty and freedom and growth and I can't get enough of it. I am truly feeling at peace and at home and there aren't words that can accurately describe how happy my heart is.
But in some moments, I just miss things about home. I miss plumbing that works reliably. I miss flushing my toilet paper. I miss never having to think about if the water is going to turn on. I miss Ginger Ale and free refills on drinks in restaurants. I miss brushing my teeth with tap water and not worrying. Showers that aren't five minutes long and/or get very cold. Walking down the street and not getting hit on by every single drunk guy and a good handful of the sober ones. Being able to overhear and understand conversations. Not constantly switching between languages. Not having to be up for breakfast at 6:45. Sleeping in a bed that smells like home (or, in this new house, I miss a bed that doesn't hurt my hips from laying on planks). Being able to go places by myself at night. Being able to find my way around and not being lost more often than not.
These are things that are stretching me. I'm thankful for the process and in no way do I wish that I had any less time here. It's bringing out the best in me while making me a little uncomfortable.
I was talking with one of my good friends back home and came to the conclusion that this trip can't be all rainbows and butterflies every day. If I'm not struggling, I'm not growing. If I'm not wrestling with concepts, I'm not maturing. If I'm not struggling to express myself in Spanish, I'm not progressing.
Good things come to those who are willing to be uncomfortable in the process.
For me, this means living in a house with six girls and spending a minimum of 40 minutes going to and from school every day (double that pretty soon) and being nowhere alone after 6pm because it's a sketch part of town. It means intentionally practicing my Spanish, even when I don't have to. It means pushing my inner introvert to go get coffee sometimes. It means struggling through my Psalm a day in Spanish.